May is Speech and Hearing Awareness Month and it’s an important time to be aware of hearing loss, which strikes 1 in 5 Canadians, 47% of which are over 60.
Hearing loss happens gradually over time. So how do you know if you have a hearing loss?
Ask yourself the following questions.
1. Do people seem to mumble or speak in a softer voice than they used to?
2. Do you feel tired or irritable after a long conversations?
3. Do you sometimes miss key words in a sentence, or frequently need to ask people to repeat themselves?
4. When you are in a group or crowded restaurant, is it difficult for you to follow the conversation?
5. When you are together with other people does background noise bother you?
6. Do you often need to turn up the volume on your TV set or radio?
7. Do you find it difficult to hear the doorbell, telephone, cellphone or alarms ringing?
8. Has someone close to you mentioned that you might have a problem with hearing?
9. Is carrying on a conversation on a telephone or cellphone difficult?
10. Does difficulty hearing cause you anxiety or embarrassment in a new situation?
How did you do?
If you answered “YES” to any of these questions, we recommend you visit a hearing clinic to have your hearing checked by a hearing professional.